The Blue Angels have successfully completed their winter training program at Naval Air Facility El Centro, California, with all 2026 demonstration pilots certified for the upcoming season.
The three-month training period marks the first full cycle where all six demonstration pilots have trained exclusively in the F/A-18 Super Hornet, completing the team’s transition from the legacy Hornet that began in 2021.
What Winter Training Involves
Each year from November through February, the Blue Angels retreat to El Centro’s clear desert skies to rebuild their demonstration from the ground up. The process is intentionally repetitive and exhaustive.
“We start with two-ship formation and build systematically,” explained Commander Alex Armatas, Blue Angels commanding officer. “By the end of winter training, we’ve flown the full demonstration sequence over 100 times. Every pilot knows exactly where they should be at every moment.”
Daily training schedules during the program:
- 6:00 AM: Brief for morning practice
- 7:30 AM: First flight sequence
- 9:00 AM: Debrief and video review
- 11:00 AM: Second flight sequence
- 1:00 PM: Afternoon brief and maintenance coordination
- 3:00 PM: Third flight sequence (weather permitting)
- 5:00 PM: Final debrief and next-day planning
The Super Hornet Difference
The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet offers significant advantages over the legacy Hornet for demonstration flying:
- More thrust: 44,000 pounds versus 32,000, enabling steeper climbs
- Better visibility: Redesigned canopy improves formation references
- Improved reliability: Newer airframes require less maintenance
- Enhanced safety: Modern flight control systems add margin in edge-of-envelope maneuvers
“The jet does things the legacy Hornet couldn’t,” said Lt. Scott Goossens, the team’s left wingman. “That’s allowed us to develop new maneuvers that wouldn’t have been safe in the old aircraft.”
2026 Roster Set
The certified 2026 demonstration team includes:
- #1 (Boss): Commander Alex Armatas
- #2 (Right Wing): Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Zimmerman
- #3 (Left Wing): Lt. Scott Goossens
- #4 (Slot): Lt. Amanda Lee
- #5 (Lead Solo): Lt. Cmdr. Brian Vaught
- #6 (Opposing Solo): Lt. Katlin Forster
The team includes two female pilots, Lee and Forster, marking the most diverse Blue Angels roster in the team’s 78-year history.
Season Opener Approaches
The Blue Angels’ 2026 season begins March 14-15 at the NAF El Centro Air Show, traditionally the team’s first public performance after winter training. The show offers fans a unique opportunity to see the team in their training environment.
“El Centro has supported us for decades,” Armatas said. “Opening the season here feels like family. The community understands what we do, and they’re incredibly welcoming.”
The full 2026 schedule includes over 60 demonstrations at venues across the United States and Canada.
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